About This Course
As mediation continues to expand across legal practice, so do the ethical responsibilities placed on attorney-mediators and advocates who participate in the process. With the recent release of ABA Formal Opinion 518, attorneys are now faced with new guidance—and new questions—regarding neutrality, client communication, conflicts, and the boundaries of advocacy within a mediated setting.
This CLE program breaks down what ABA 518 means in practical terms, outlining how it aligns with and departs from previous interpretations of professional conduct. Attendees will explore the opinion’s core requirements, examine ethical tensions that arise during mediation, and develop strategies to remain compliant while effectively representing client interests.
Through real-world hypotheticals, discussion, and best-practice frameworks, participants will gain the tools needed to navigate ethical dilemmas in real time, avoid missteps that could lead to disciplinary exposure, and strengthen their role as both advocates and neutrals in the mediation arena. By the end of the session, attorneys will leave with concrete takeaways they can apply immediately to their practice.
